Deputy warns against ‘Hellenophobia’

DISY deputy Averof Neophytou yesterday warned that Cyprus needed to address what was going on in Greece, not only in a financial sense but also in terms of the human aspect, which was bound to affect the island.

‘There are bound to be negative consequences for Cyprus, at least in the short term,” he said.

“Our banking system works in Greece and the Greek banking system operates in Cyprus, we speak the same language, as well as share common traditions and common ethnic roots.”

Neophytou said the effects on the labour market would also be significant, especially with the cut in the minimum wage in Greece as part of the new packet of austerity measures.

“We should assume that this will increase the flow of workers towards Cyprus,” he said. “It must be remembered that there will be further pressure on the labour market so there is a need here for strategies and measures.”

He added that Cyprus must be careful to avoid any chance of creating ‘Hellenophobia’.

“Let’s not forget that we found refuge in Greece after the nightmare of 1974,” Neophytou said, adding that “even today with Greece one step away from bankruptcy, thousands of Cypriot students are studying at Greek universities for free”.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.